Can you over tighten shackle bolts?

Tightening the shackle bolts too much will squeeze the shackle straps against the leaf springs and the whole suspension system will bind and cause problems. The best thing to do when tightening down shackle bolts is to use lock nuts and tighten them until they are snug and then backed off 1/4 turn.

How tight should spring shackle bolts be?

How Tight Should Leaf Spring Shackle and Spring Eye Bolts Be If the bolts for the shackle link and the leaf spring eye are too tight, the suspension won’t articulate as it should. You want to run the bolt down tight, then back it off by a 1/4 turn, as you’d mentioned.

What is a shackle pin?

A shackle, also known as a gyve, is a U-shaped piece of metal secured with a clevis pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism. The term also applies to handcuffs and other similarly conceived restraint devices that function in a similar manner.

Are leaf spring shackles supposed to move?

They also support the vehicle’s weight, since these are a primary component of the suspension system. As a leaf spring flexes up or down, its length from main eye to shackle eye changes. Since one end is mounted solidly (the main eye), and cannot move, the length changes happen at the shackle end of the leaf pack.

How tight should you tighten U bolts?

Tighten all U-Bolts until they are snug only. Tighten in the sequence shown to approximately 1/3 of recommended torque. Repeat, using the same sequence, gradually increasing the torque through a second and third stage until the recommended final torque is attained.

What is a shackle bolt?

Shackle bolts are used to secure your trailer’s spring leaf. This shackle bolt is 3-1/2 inches long and 9/16 inch in diameter. Each bolt is fluted to prevent wear and tear on your hanging plates.

Are shackles supposed to move?

The braces welded between the sides of a shackle are generally used for stability purposes. The longer a shackle becomes, the more likely it is to flex side-to-side during suspension movement. As the leaf spring moves up and down, it will also move inward (upward movement) or outward (downward movement).